Jeff Nourse is a successful entrepreneur whose latest venture, the New You Spa, has quickly become the number one provider of medical spa services in Canada.

But Jeff Nourse says it has been a long and difficult road to success. And he has some tips to offer up-and-coming entrepreneurs: things that he says he wishes someone would have told him before he launched his first business venture.

One of the most important things for first-time entrepreneurs to remember, Jeff Nourse says, is to stay focused on what you are doing. It's easy to get sidetracked by what appear to be opportunities that are too good to pass up, but Jeff Nourse says that in his experience, these turn out to be things that spread you too thin and cut into your effectiveness and productivity. So focus on your original concept and don't let yourself be distracted.

Jeff Nourse also says you should do what you love, and love what you do. This seems obvious, he says, but it's a lesson that new entrepreneurs can lose sight of. Businesses that are built around your strengths, he goes on, have a much greater chance of success than a business that is chosen haphazardly. Make sure your heart is in it.

You should also act like a start-up with no money, he says. Practice the art of being thrifty. Jeff Nourse says you should watch every dollar and double-check every one of your expenses. Maintain a low overhead, and manage your cash flow effectively.

Jeff Nourse also says that you should remember that no one is going to give you money. You will be hard-pressed to find investors. He says that if you need large infusions of cash, you need scale down your big plans and expectations, and find ways of improving your business model on a shoestring budget. If you demonstrate the value of your business before seeking investors, your chances of succeeding with them will be much greater.

Finally, Jeff Nourse says to keep a level head about you, and don't start believing your own hyperbole. Promote your business with enthusiasm, but do it with taste and without excessive exaggeration. He says that if you just stick to the simple facts, it will go a long way toward impressing potential partners and investors.